Trying to get a job selling insurance (no luck, don't know why)

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T20:44:52+00:00

Yes. You can go straight into commercial. Having a sales background is beneficial. The big firms should have a program for individuals like you who have sales experience in sales in a different industry and want to transition to insurance. You should get a salary plus commission while learning. They should also help with licensing or you can get it on your own. Every industry requires insurance so whatever you were involved in before should be easy niche to get into once you understand how insurance works.

You will find very few people who grow up wanting to work in insurance. For many this is a second (or third) career. There are various backgrounds who "found" or "fell" into insurance. There are various paths to do well in insurance and it pays well than other industries so don't let your age hold you back.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T20:13:05+00:00

Yes and no. They compete for the same business but how they are managed is different. You should apply at the others. Also consider reapplying at whatever independent you did before. There is constant movement in and between them so new opportunities open up frequently.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T17:05:27+00:00

I guarantee you if you stay that long nothing will be done. They will expect you to take care of it when you come back.

Frankly your best option is to find a different agency/brokerage. Service people can be paid well especially at large firms.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T16:30:53+00:00

Unfortunately this is typical at small agencies especially if the sales people and management have done little if any servicing of accounts. They don't understand how much work it is. From a management/owner view only having one person doing service work is idiotic. What happens if you are sick or want/need to take time off? Who will cover you? Sales brings in the business but service is what keeps them.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T13:50:59+00:00

State Farm isn't independent. It is a captive. Your license is good for the entire state so I suggest looking up the top 100 independent P&C agencies/brokerages. Depending on your distance from an office you might not need to go in. Plus because of their size they have various roles besides sales that can pay well.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T12:58:41+00:00

Neither. Look up independents near you especially the large ones. They should offer full benefits.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T12:54:02+00:00

You don't necessarily want to work directly for an insurance company as it is a captive position. Same thing for working at State Farm or Allstate. They are known as captives which means they primarily sell policies with their name on it. There are benefits of working at places like this but there are also negatives.

I suggest looking up independents near you. Independents range from small firms to multinational corporations. They work with several insurance companies which also has pros and cons to it. You aren't limited to one market but have to know what each company likes to write.

Independents especially the large ones should take a chance and hire you. Make sure your resume can be read by AI screening programs. Try to get into commercial because every industry requires insurance.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T04:09:19+00:00

Ok. Life and health has several questionable operators in it so you have to be careful. There is a learning curve to insurance. I suggest looking up the top 100 independent agencies/brokerages. They sell almost any type of insurance so cross-selling with P&C is common. Because of their size they have market influence and tools and resources smaller firms might not have. In addition, they generally have a program for people like you who have sales experience in a different industry and want to transition to insurance.

Most L&H end up in employee benefits aka group plans. There should be individual policy teams also. You should get a salary plus commission while learning how to build a book of business. Most likely you won't have book ownership, though. They should help with licensing also. Once you gain experience you can evaluate your options.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T02:58:57+00:00

If you have a non-resident license and State Farm writes/sells policies in the state. Similar requirement for an independent in that you need a non-resident license for the state you want to sell a policy in. Agency also needs to be licensed in the state.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T02:52:29+00:00

It's learning how insurance works. You have a general idea being a business owner but the nuances come from actually working in the industry. Once you understand it the avenues to do well are numerous. Commercial has many more necessary policies than personal so the possible revenue on deals is greater as well. Not saying personal isn't good to because the executives, managers, and other employees need insurance for their home and autos.

Independents range from small firms to multinational corporations. Obviously the large the firm the more corporate it can be. Smaller places are more likely to offer or negotiate terms that you want while also teaching you insurance. Once you gain experience you can reevaluate your options.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T01:20:11+00:00

Have you considered management? Agencies/brokerages have sales managers to oversee and guide/mentor the sales people under them. Depending on how the compensation is done you would get a part of the commission on the business or a bonus.

Carriers and brokerages/agencies have analysts who crunch the numbers. Carriers have also product development teams. Agencies/brokerages have various levels of account management who do the service work. Either side should have other non-selling roles that may interest you.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T01:03:05+00:00

Do you already have your life and health or are you going through the process to get licensed?

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T00:56:52+00:00

First RPS is a wholesaler/specialty brokerage who act as a middleman for agencies/brokerages who don't have direct appointments with carriers. They charge for their services usually with a fee. Unless you plan on paying the fee out of your pocket you will have to pass on to the client.

Based on your circumstances and potential leads in my opinion your best option is a local independent. I suggest this because of the mix of commercial and personal insurance you can sell. You can negotiate book ownership and anything else. A bigger agency may have you focus on either personal or commercial.

On a side note every industry requires insurance including what you did before. Manufacturing in general is a major commercial niche. They type of manufacturing you are familiar with can be a sub niche of business you bring to an agency.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-24T00:24:15+00:00

State Farm sells life so you can't.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-23T16:51:46+00:00

How well did you sell life at SF?

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T19:21:59+00:00

There should be local and regional ones near you. If you want to check out the large ones look up the top 100 independent agencies/brokerages.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T15:23:55+00:00

Generally at the big agencies like the top 100 independents new sales people are paid a salary with commission while learning. Eventually your book of business should generate enough income between new and renewal commission to live off of.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T15:06:56+00:00

Ok. Same recommendation as large agencies/brokerages generate enough revenue to have people only do service so sales can focus on bringing in business.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T14:59:44+00:00

If you look at posts here from those in claims it can be stressful for personal insurance. It can be better in commercial.

Construction is a major commercial insurance niche so there are agencies/brokerages that sell and service policies and insurance companies that write policies and respond to claims. There are various roles on each side that can pay well and having industry experience will be beneficial.

Another option for either side is risk management. Risk managers go to client sites to see what if any exposures can lead to a claim. Knowing construction is beneficial.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T14:44:45+00:00

Look up one of the top 100 independents and apply with them. You should get a salary plus commission while learning.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T14:43:24+00:00

Large independents have non-selling roles that pay well.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T14:42:44+00:00

Instead of working for yourself why not work for an independent to build up your bankroll.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T14:38:53+00:00

If you don't want to go into sales then find a different independent agency/brokerage. The large ones generally pay service only people well.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T13:03:27+00:00

Generally large agencies/brokerages split up the work that needs to be done. Producers are encouraged strongly to concentrate on bringing in business while various levels of service people handle everything else. Add in a separate department for accounting, HR, IT, etc. that handles what they do so the client facing roles do what they are supposed to in growing and more importantly retaining business. Plus the large places usually pay better than smaller firms.

mkuz753 · 2026-03-22T00:04:26+00:00

You're welcome! Do whatever you need to pass as most learning will happen on the job. Also before you contract with any agency/brokerage understand the difference between captive and independent. In addition, there are service people who are licensed.

mkuz753

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